Sanmen 1 connected to offsite power

Unit 1 of China's Sanmen nuclear power plant has been connected to a nearby substation to provide offsite power for testing electrical systems. The reactor is set to begin operating next year.

Workers connect Sanmen 1 with offsite power (Image: CNNC)

China National Nuclear Corporation said that the unit was successfully connected to the substation, which will supply it with medium-voltage power (220 kV), at 11.00am on 23 March.

China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) has a major role in the transfer of knowledge and technology from the plant supplier, Westinghouse, while building the first AP1000 pressurized water reactors. The company said, "Transmission of electricity is a landmark in the nuclear power plant construction project." SNPTC noted that the provision of a stable and reliable power supply "provides a strong guarantee for the commissioning of the nuclear power plant."

First nuclear island concrete was poured at Sanme 1 in March 2009, while installation of the pressure vessel was completed in September 2011. Westinghouse recently announced that it had completed fabrication of all 157 fuel assemblies and related components needed for the unit. Sanmen 1 is one of two AP1000s being constructed at the site in Zhejiang province and is the lead unit of four AP1000s currently being built in China. All these are scheduled to begin operating between November 2013 and March 2015.